Pretty soon their sorry asses will be begging to crash at my
cottage from the Victoria Day long weekend in May—also referred to as May
two-four, which marks the beginning of cottage season, blackflies, and
summer—to Thanksgiving. Who’ll be laughing then?

Friday night with the guys comes with lots of ribbing, lots
of laughing, and lots of cold ones. Tonight’s no different, except we’re
celebrating more than the end of the work week. We’re celebrating my new
cottage in Muskoka. Well, it’s not new, rather old actually. A fixer-upper that
cost a fucking fortune. But it’s mine and totally worth it.

“Nah, not ready to grow up quite yet. My mom’s pestering me
about when I’m gonna propose to Cass. That’s enough stress.” He shivers
mockingly but ends up looking like he’s having a seizure.

Finn Raine is a liar. I’ve known him since we were in
diapers—our mothers are best friends—and Cassandra Donnelly is his high school
sweetheart. Nothing about marrying her causes him undue stress.

“And when are you gonna pop the question?” Ken, another
buddy from our high school days, asks about what most would call the ultimate
commitment—marriage.

“Not any time soon.”

Full of shit. He’s counting the days, literally, until Cass
graduates with her Ph.D. to get down on his bended knee. He already has the
ring.

Cupping my mouth with my hand, I fake-cough, “Bullshit,” and
elbow him in the ribs.

The guys whoop and whistle and bang their fists on the bar.
That gets the attention of not only the bartender but half the room. Heads spin
toward the ruckus, including a cute blonde a few seats down from us.

She licks her lips, her hunger growing the longer I hold her
gaze. If I wanted, we’d be fucking in under thirty minutes.

I don’t.

Our beers arrive, and I take a long pull of the cold, frothy
lager. Finn called it. At twenty-nine, I’m an adult, already wading through
burgeoning responsibility as a criminal lawyer and the proud owner of not one
but two properties. All I need now is a woman to share my life.

Like bitter February flurries in Toronto, my spine freezes,
ripples of frost spreading through me. Where the hell did that thought come
from?

There isn’t a woman in my life or any prospects on the
horizon. Marriage is a long way off. Came close with Scarlett, my girlfriend of
two years, but we split six months ago. The break was amicable and
mutual.

Some days I miss her, some days I don’t, and some days I
can’t make sense of what happened. Even still, if she were here right now
wanting to get back together, I’m not sure that’s what I’d want.

Since then, I’ve had a couple one-night stands—more out of
habit than desire. Enough to realize I’m done with meaningless hookups.

The blonde smiles again, and Finn notices, winking
suggestively as if I need his approval or permission.

“I’m gonna piss, and then I’m out. Go make your move, bud.”
He slaps my shoulder like a coach boosting his player before sending him onto
the field.

He vacates his stool, and I ignore him, signalling the
bartender to settle my bill.

“Ken, I’m gone too.” I take out my card as the bartender
nears with the machine.

“Sure. I’ll see you later this week.” Ken swigs the last of
his drink and scans the crowd, on the hunt. The guy thinks with his dick.

As I head out, I find Finn leaning against the wall by the
entrance, with a shit-eating grin swallowing his features. The idiot was
waiting for me, hoping I’d score. His eyebrows climb to his hairline at my solo
exit.

“Where’s the chick?” Both shoulders rise, his hands out,
palms up.

I brush past him, out the door, and into the balmy May
night. He follows, bewildered. “But she wanted in your pants.”

“I’ve got to get up early tomorrow.” I’m bored with this
conversation.

“What? Since when does that have anything to do with a quick
fuck?”

“Not interested.” I yawn.

“The fuck?” He grabs my shoulder, twisting me to face him.
“Who the fuck are you, and what did you do with Drew?”

I chuckle. This guy can be a diva. He’s been with Cass for
eleven years and lives the bachelor life through Ken and me. He’s beyond
dramatic if we pass up a hookup.

“I’m done with the one-night stands.” This isn’t news. We’ve
had this chat.

I keep walking, but he’s rooted to the sidewalk, puzzled. My
building is a block away, and I can’t get there fast enough. The insanity of my
workload is finally hitting me. I’ve worked my ass off the past few weeks,
knowing I’d be away for the next two.

Sleep would be an awesome way to spend the weekend, making
up for the long hours I’ve been putting in, but sleep has to wait. There’s too
much to do.

“You’re crazy, asshole. Get back there,” Finn orders like
this is life or death. Idiot. “The blonde was hot.”

“You’re fucking dumb,” Finn pants, winded from the few feet
of jogging.

“Have you looked in a mirror lately?” I quip, opening the
door to my building. “You crashing here, or what?”

“Nah. I’m the smart one. Cass is waiting for me. I’m getting
laid tonight. Later, loser.” He pulls out his phone for an Uber.

“Whatever,” I chuckle, holding my thumb and pointer finger
in the shape of an L.

“I’ll come up next weekend with Cass, and maybe my parents,
Pip, or the rest of the brood will come.” He barely glances up from his phone.

Finn has three siblings: Pippa, Claire, and Tom. While I’ve
known all of them their entire lives and we’re like family, only one of them is
a problem. And if she shows up next weekend, I’m done for.

I sizzle with thoughts of Pippa. I’m a stick of dynamite,
and she’s the flame. Ignite, blaze, combust.

That’s why I’ve stayed away.

It’s been well over a year since I’ve seen her. My avoidance
was intentional. If I was going to keep my relationships with Scarlett, Finn,
and my family, I had to end all contact. But now, with just a mention, I want
to see her. Not a good idea.

“That’s cool, but don’t bother.” My voice is steady and
uninterested, contradicting the small explosion going on in my chest. “Alec and
Paige are coming, and Ken’s going to take a day or two. I’m good,
thanks.”

“All right.” He’s engrossed in his phone.

The need to sleep has vanished, replaced by a wired edginess
I know too well.

Pippa.

Finn had to say her name, and now I wonder what she’s been
up to. I could ask Paige since they live together, but like my absence, my ignorance
is deliberate.

The less I know, the better. I don’t need the temptation.
She’s the girl I can’t have.

And that’s the thing, isn’t it? She’s just a girl, and
seeing her now might be different. She’s most probably over me and dating.
Dammit. Why’d I have to think about Pippa with another guy? Now I want to punch
something.

The gym. That’s what I’ll do. I’ll unwind with exercise and
exhaust myself.

Sleep does eventually come, but it’s restless with dreams of
a sexy blonde bombshell with the bluest eyes, the longest legs, and the
sweetest smile.

S.M. West writes
contemporary romance, romantic suspense, erotica and whatever her heart
desires. She spends most of her time juggling a day job, being a mom, wife, and
writing. She’s a self-professed junkie of many things, including a voracious
fan of music, a born wanderer, a wine aficionado and chocolate connoisseur.